Alex: Hi Denise, I’m glad you could take the time to do this interview. You just recently published Eternal in electronic format. Do you have any plans to publish a paperback?

Denise: Hi Alex and thank you for inviting me to this interview!

I am hopeful that if I generate enough eBook sales, it will increase my chances of securing a literary agent and lead to a traditional publishing deal. However, I may opt to self-publish a print copy in the future if my eBook sales are high enough.

Alex: I know that you came up with the idea for Eternal while playing a game of Rory’s story cubes. For the readers that are less familiar with them, could you explain what they are?

Denise: Rory’s Story Cubes is a game that involves throwing nine dice – each side portraying a unique image; after the dice land, a combination of nine different pictures is displayed, and a story must be created from that. I can’t remember all of the combinations that fateful throw resulted in, but I do recall a ghost, a keyhole, a water droplet and a sheep.

The characters of Vala, Elvar and Amalia formed almost instantaneously, with Jelly and Max closely following. The characters took on a life of their own and the story just flowed; I did not actually have a fixed story outline from the beginning – I just wrote a scene and the next followed, though I did have the key points of the story in my head throughout.

Alex: You’ve already mentioned a few of the characters. Now, could you briefly explain what your book is about? What can readers expect to experience when reading your novel?

Denise: Eternal is a Young Adult Romantic Fantasy Adventure with an Arthurian flavour. It is set between two realms – the human world and Candalia, the fae realm. However, it also delves deeply into the relationships between the characters and the more everyday struggles they face. Nearly all the main characters are aged between seventeen and twenty-two and magical abilities aside they face the same challenges as the majority of their contemporaries. There is a strong emphasis in Eternal on the importance of family and friends, particularly on how relationships grow and change over time. It is a life-affirming, positive story about overcoming adversity, self-discovery, relationships and romance blended with magic, peril and the realisation that ‘there is no magic more powerful than that of love’. Eternal interlaces all these together in an exciting and highly readable form.

Vala believes she is just an ordinary teenager trying to find her place in the world with her closest friends, Jelly and Max.

But her splendid normality is quickly turned upside down when she happens upon Elvar, a handsome fae boy that Vala finds impossible to resist. The connection between Vala and Elvar is electric but their euphoric bliss quickly comes crashing down as Vala discovers the truth about her family, revealing who she really is.

Little does Vala know, this truth will be the catalyst for her parent’s disappearance and the reason for the darkness hovering over the fae realm.

With friendship and love as her only allies, Vala must face her fears in order to triumph against the evil that has beckoned her.

The story opens with Vala and her friends, Jelly and Max; it is clear from the outset that they each have a close bond with one another and at the darkest hour, Vala’s friends are there for her – even risking their lives to help her. The characters of Jelly and Max are not based on particular friends of mine but their qualities encompass all the wonderful attributes of my friends as a whole. I am hopeful this is something that readers of all ages can relate to or if they can’t, realise they should find better friends.

Vala is a strong female protagonist who, with the help of her friends and family, is able to overcome adversity, ultimately facing her fears and the antagonist of the story, the malevolent Spindler, with courage and strength. She is also a normal teenage girl with insecurities, desires and aspirations that make her character likeable and easy to identify with – an inspirational, yet believable heroine.

Eternal also explores Vala and Elvar’s relationships with their parents and siblings – again, I have included many elements that are easy to relate to and may even elicit a laugh or two.

Alex: Now, I’d like to ask you a few general questions about your writing experience. How long have you known you wanted to be an author? Was there anything that started your love of writing? Denise: Ostensibly, I stumbled into professional writing by accident, or perhaps it was serendipity or fate! The inspiration for Eternal originated from a game of Rory’s Story Cubes (see previous comment), and it was not until I started writing the short story that became the provenance of Eternal, that I realized I wanted to be an author. As it took on a life of its own, and I began to write, a continuous stream of ideas and plots flowed through my mind: Simultaneously the characters started to develop and come to life. I started writing because I was born with a wild, unstoppable imagination; dreams and stories would form in my mind and I needed a way to express them coherently. I can still vividly recall dreams I had when I was just three years old. I first considered sharing these stories publicly after winning a short story contest at seven years old – it gave me the confidence to continue and the realisation that I had something wonderful to share with the world. Childhood favourites such as Maurice Sendak’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ and ‘Outside Over There’ and various others such as Frank L Baum’s ‘Oz’ stories and paranormal anthologies also fuelled my imagination.

Although I initially intended to pursue a career in 3D Model Animation I continued to write stories and scripts throughout my time at university. However, my writing ambitions were put on hold as marriage and starting a family intervened.

I am now balancing writing full-time with family life, and will continue to do so for as long as I can draw breath. Alex: What is it like for you when you sit down to write? Denise: Writing for me is an entirely immersive experience that enables me to escape the real world and indulge in my imagination and fantasies. When I am writing, I am living vicariously through my female protagonist, feeling her emotions and thoughts. I believe this really helps create an authenticity and realism that would not otherwise be there. However, although I find writing provides solace, it can also be quite isolating at times; this is part of the reason I enjoyed making my trailer – it was a wonderful experience to work with others who shared my vision and we had a lovely camaraderie between us. Alex: Editing is an important part of being an author. Are there any particular methods you used to edit your novel? Denise: Editing is for me, the hardest part of being an author! The methods I employed actually evolved over time as I learnt more about my craft and what was involved in producing a professionally written novel. Initially, my first three chapters were critiqued by a company providing editorial services; I took on board the comments I felt had some validity and dismissed those that did not. After this, my husband proofread my manuscript. However, it was not until I employed the services of Bronwyn and Alex Hemus at Standoutbooks (https://www.standoutbooks.co.uk/), and had my first three chapters content edited by Bronwyn, that I realized that my novel needed a much more comprehensive edit. Unfortunately, my finances did not permit me to have this done professionally so I solicited the services of my father, who very kindly took on the job of content editing my manuscript. As before, I took on board all the suggestions made, which not only involved corrections, but also shortening certain scenes and additional scenes and paragraphs. Following this, both myself and my father repeated this process twice – I then submitted my manuscript to Bronwyn for a professional proofread – I once again made corrections, my father and I read through it making further corrections, and then Bronwyn checked it again before it was finally ready. Alex: I think a lot of authors, including myself, would agree that editing is the hardest part of being an author. Do you have any tips or suggestions for aspiring authors? Denise: Above all, trust your instincts! If something doesn’t feel right, stay away from it! Spend money wisely on a reputable, professional editorial and marketing service such as Standoutbooks; they will perfect your book and help it achieve the prominence it deserves. A solid marketing strategy is fundamental, so explore the possibilities and utilise what feels right for you. Writing is a creative endeavour, but to sell your book, it also important to treat it like a business venture. However, one essential that should be implemented is a professional, beautifully presented website. For me, the trailers were also imperative as they provide a visual representation of my book and allow readers to experience the world I have created in my novel. Another author gave me a great piece of advice: your family and friends are your greatest asset. Friends and family provide a great network of support and offer great scope for future sales as they are more vociferous in helping to promote your book through writing informative reviews and spreading the words to their friends, who in turn will hopefully tell other friends and so on. One final word: establish a good support network. A life/work balance is important so spend time with family and friends and enlist their help. Alex: Thank you for stopping by, and good luck on your upcoming novel. Denise: Thank you, Alex – all the very best of success to you too.

Alex: Hi Felicia, I’m glad you could take some time out of your day to do this interview. So far you have two published books: The White Aura and The Vessel. Have you written any short stories or you do you prefer to focus on novels?

Felicia: Hi, Alex!! *waves* I like to focus on novels, but I did write short stories for a newspaper in Spencer, TN for a few months.

Alex: How did you come up with the idea for The White Aura series? What was your inspiration?

Felicia: Well, my inspiration is always my daughter. I want to be the best for her and show her that following your dreams can work! As for the book…I had a dream about it one night. Then another night. Finally, I just decided to start writing.

Alex: Now, I’d like to ask you a few general questions about your writing experience. How long have you known you wanted to be an author? Was there anything that started your love of writing?

Felicia: I began writing when I was 12. I got bored in history and started a notebook with a story. I think my love of books is what stems my love for writing. I mean…books are just awesome! And to be an author and create that awesome for others is truly an amazing feeling.

Alex: What is it like for you when you sit down to write?

Felicia: It really varies. Some scenes are there, I close my eyes, and my fingers flow. Some scenes need more help and I’m sitting biting my lip and taking notes on my post it’s the whole time.

Alex: I understand you self-published your novels. How did you go about publishing? What services did you use?

Felicia: I researched. A lot. Then I talked to other indies and they helped me. I got an editor and a cover artist. I formatted myself and bam! I have a book :) or two…almost three.

Alex: One of the biggest obstacles for self-published authors is figuring out how to market their work. How do you approach marketing?

Felicia: I majored in business and I’m currently working on my MBA, so honestly, marketing is second nature for me. The whole business aspect is. I think it has helped me tremendously to have the business background. I’m also starting a marketing business with a friend of mine to assist authors that have this issue. I couldn’t even tell you my approach, it’s just normal for me.

Alex: Do you have any tips or suggestions for aspiring authors?

Felicia: Read, write, read some more, write some more. Connect with other authors, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and just be yourself. You’ll have so many fans just because you’re awesome. And good luck!

Alex: Thank you for stopping by, and good luck on your upcoming novel.

Felicia: Thank you so much for having me, Alex!! I enjoyed the interview and thank you! Mangled Hearts is releasing July 12 :D

Alex: Hello Graeme, I’m glad you could take some time out of your day to do this interview. You’ve just recently published The Pact. Do you have any other publications right now? Graeme: The Pact is my first title, and I’m busy at work on another book now.Alex: How did you come up with the idea for The Pact? What was your inspiration? Graeme: The Pact was originally intended as an exercise. Before writing it, I had been working on a long epic and was relentlessly submitting it to agents. I wondered if there was something wrong with my craft, so I took an outlining workshop and learned how to build a story from a basic premise. To be sure I could make it work, I started with something fresh. The following morning, during my walk to work (I was a barista at Starbucks at the time), I searched for a premise. That was when I met Will and Robin (at the time, they had no names). As the week went on I started to write down Will’s story, developing it based on the outlining stages I had been taught, and within a month and a half I had the story finished.Alex: I’ve had the pleasure of reading The Pact, and I really enjoyed the depth of the characters. Was it easy for you to write them or did it take a lot of work? Graeme: Writing characters is something I enjoy the most. It’s hard work without the proper tools, but with some careful organization and profiling techniques, I find it’s easy to connect to them. As I built my story, I gave major characters a page where I wrote down things like physical descriptors, events that shaped them, motives, goals, fears, etc. I have a separate page for secondary characters where I tried to describe them quickly, things that stuck out, be it a scar on the eye, a nervous lip-licking habit or a constant frown because of a stiff back. When it comes time to sit down and write, I spread out the character pages and usually spend about twenty minutes going over outline, setting and character notes – especially those character notes – that way when the writing starts I feel connected to them. Sometimes I’ll stop and try to speak out loud the way they would, until I’m convinced I’ve got it right. Usually the characters are quite a bit more interesting than the notes – the sheets just serve as an entry point, so it’s really an act of trusting the natural process of connecting to a story’s voice, something I believe any writer can learn to develop through commitment to his or her craft.Alex: Now, I’d like to ask you a few general questions about your writing experience. How long have you known you wanted to be an author? Was there anything that started your love of writing? Graeme: I’ve been telling stories since I was old enough to talk. I started writing horror stories when I was 8, inspired by the horror movies I watched secretly at my friend’s house. A serious love for writing came, though, when I discovered fantasy, particularly after I got into Lord of the Rings. I wanted to write my own story, and continued to develop a fantasy world. However, I just couldn’t get a book to hold together. Even in my early twenties, when I finally wrote a book, it just didn’t have the zing I wanted. However, the fantasy world continued to develop, so that, when The Pact started to come together, I had an 18-year-old fantasy world ready to be hammered around the tale and finally ready to be revealed through the many stories I now plan to tell.Alex: What is it like for you when you sit down to write? Graeme: Getting started is a pain in the butt. It’s rare that this step is ever easy. I usually take a while, and rarely just open up and start typing where I left off. I always bring my black box of outline notes, spread them out around me, and pore over the storyboard, the character profiles, and the settings. Now I have a map, so I look at that as well. Usually, when I feel connected and ready to go, I look at where I left off, read it to try and find where I can jump in. Sometimes I go back ten pages, or a few chapters, sometimes I pick up right where I left off. If there’s ever something bugging me, I use the find feature to go back and make sure everything is consistent. Because I write fantasy, if I make reference to a new custom or world detail, I make sure I record it in the right place so it’s there for future reference. It’s ordered chaos, and the only reason it doesn’t distress me is because I’ve seen that it works out.Alex: Ordered chaos sounds like it could be a lot of fun, although quite a pain if you weren't used to stress. What has been your experience with publishing? How did you choose the publisher you’re currently with? Graeme: The experience of trying to get published is something few writers will ever speak fondly of. I've had my own trail of endless rejections, frustrations, and a $2000 mistake called vanity publishing. I considered self-publishing, however I avoided it as I had done a little research into the publishing market to know that trade publishing held an advantage, even if it was harder to break in. The road to getting published opened up to me when I took the advice of other successful writers: I attended a writing convention. There, I met Ellen, who owns Champagne Books. The following year, I attended again, with The Pact in its polishing stage. I pitched the premise her way and she asked me to submit it. A month later, I was offered my first contract. Ironically, it was my last shift at Starbucks.Alex: You just became an editor as well. Congratulations! Can I ask you what it’s like when you’re editing you're own work versus someone else’s? Graeme: I like to think I can edit my own work, but even though I know the rules, that doesn’t mean I catch everything. What’s hard about editing your own work is you are emotionally attached to lots of the things you create, and sometimes, when you’re new at writing, you toil so hard to get a sentence a certain way you might keep it when in fact it is detracting. An editor isn’t in love with your words like you are – an editor wants a clear story and has the reader in mind, so the writer-editor dialogue is about finding that middle ground. That said, at the end of the day, the story is your and you must, first and foremost, be sure you are happy with the story. I enjoy editing other peoples’ work because it helps me to develop more objectivity when I’m revising, rather than writing and trusting my editor to catch my mistakes. The sharper your book is, the more your editor can push you to make it even better – a book can ALWAYS be better, no matter what. In publishing, you want it to cross the threshold at which point it’s so good that “better” would only be called for by perfectionists. Being an editor and writer helps me to understand that the process of editing and writing are very much intertwined – the only difference is the editing process is a partnership, whereas writing is solitary.Alex: Do you have any tips or suggestions for aspiring authors? Graeme: Writing is a continuous process, not an act of vanity. Avoid getting caught up in the dream of being an author with your name on books. You’ll do much better if you can focus on the deeper things that make writing great: connect to your story, bring it to life. Discover your voice. This is the most rewarding thing about being a writer. How do you do this? Everyone is different, but I found mine when I started reading my work out loud. I couldn’t even read my first manuscript (presently dead, in a box), and occasionally my second made me shiver, but only occasionally. When I put both of those aside and wrote The Pact, I aimed to make every single sentence do that. You know you've captured the voice of your story when you change and enter some other sort of world when reading it aloud. Sometimes the hairs on your arms stir, your heart beats hard, and your eyes water a little, your throat tingles. You feel it flowing, like some sort of enchanted blood. Then you've got it; then those words are much more than words. That's what you want to aim for. Yeah, you still need to step back and think structure, grammar, and other such things, but those are like the bones that keep your story together. The voice is the blood, and without it, your story is dead.Alex: Wow! That’s really exciting. I’ve changed a considerable amount so far, as a writer, but nothing so intense. I’m looking forward to perfecting my voice as a writer, and getting into the mindset where I experience those feelings while writing. Well, thank you for stopping by Graeme. Graeme: And thank you for having me! I’ve really enjoyed our correspondence, another thing that’s so important with writing – we all inspire each other, and I really appreciate how your input has helped with my own inspiration. Graeme’s information: Website: http://www.graemebrownart.com/the_pact.html Blog: http://www.fantasywritingjourney.wordpress.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraemeBrownWpg